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Publish yavalath rules from repository GAMEHELP.wiki
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== Summary ==
==Goal==
'''Yavalath''' is an acclaimed abstract strategy game invented in 2007 by computer scientist '''Cameron Browne''' using his evolutionary game-generation program '''LUDI''', and published by '''nestorgames'''. It holds historical distinction as the first commercially published board game designed by artificial intelligence.


The game is renowned for its deceptively simple yet diabolical twist on connection games: '''Connect 4 to WIN, but connect 3 and you LOSE!'''
'''Yavalath''' is an abstract strategy game designed in 2007 by computer scientist Cameron Browne using his evolutionary program LUDI, and published by nestorgames. It is famous for its simple yet diabolical rule: '''Connect 4 to WIN, but connect 3 and you LOSE!'''


== Overview & Objective ==
==Components==
* '''Players''': 2 or 3 players
* '''Board''': Hexagonal grid of varying sizes (Standard: 5 cells per side, 61 total cells)
* '''Pieces''': Stones in White, Black (and Red for 3-player games)
* '''Objective''': Be the first to create an unbroken straight line of '''4 of your stones''' while avoiding ever forming a line of '''3 of your stones'''.


== Core Gameplay ==
{| class="wikitable"
Players start with an empty board and take turns placing one stone of their color onto any unoccupied hexagonal cell.
! Component !! Visual !! Description
|-
| '''White Stone''' || [[File:Yavalath_stone_white.png|28px|middle]] || Player 1 piece.
|-
| '''Black Stone''' || [[File:Yavalath_stone_black.png|28px|middle]] || Player 2 piece.
|-
| '''Red Stone''' || [[File:Yavalath_stone_red.png|28px|middle]] || Player 3 piece (in 3-player games).
|-
| '''Hexagonal Board''' || [[File:Yavalath_board_hex.png|28px|middle]] || Hexagonal grid of cells (Standard: Side 5, 61 cells).
|-
| '''Winning Line''' || [[File:Yavalath_win_4.png|28px|middle]] || Highlighted in green: 4 or more stones in an unbroken straight line (5 in Five-not-four).
|-
| '''Losing Line''' || [[File:Yavalath_lose_3.png|28px|middle]] || Highlighted in red: exactly 3 stones in an unbroken straight line (4 in Five-not-four).
|}


=== Winning and Losing ===
==Setup==
After placing a stone, all lines extending in the three hexagonal axes passing through that stone are evaluated:
# '''WIN (4-in-a-row)''': If you create a straight line of '''4 or more''' stones of your color, you immediately '''WIN''' the game.
# '''LOSE (3-in-a-row)''': If you create a straight line of '''exactly 3''' stones of your color (without simultaneously completing 4), you immediately '''LOSE''' the game!
# '''Simultaneous Win/Loss Rule''': If a single stone placement simultaneously forms both a line of 4 and a line of 3, the '''WIN takes precedence''' and you win the game.
# '''Draw''': If all cells on the board are filled without any winning or losing line being completed, the game ends in a tie.


== Three-Player Rules ==
* The board starts empty.
When 3 players play Yavalath, the game uses elimination rules:
* Turn order: White → Black (→ Red in 3-player games).
* If a player creates a line of 3 stones, that player is '''immediately eliminated'''.
* Players take turns placing one stone of their colour on an unoccupied hexagonal cell [[File:Yavalath_board_hex.png|20px|middle]].
* '''Must block''': the player whose turn comes next must not be allowed to win. If the next surviving player could complete a winning line with their next stone, you '''must''' place your stone on one of those winning cells (if there are several, you can only block one, but you must choose one of them). This applies even if your blocking stone forms a line of 3 and eliminates you; if it forms a line of 4 you win instead. When no such threat exists you may play anywhere.
* '''Stones remain on the board''': The eliminated player's stones stay on the board for the rest of the game as neutral obstacles/blockers.
* The remaining players continue playing in clockwise order.
* The game ends when:
** A player connects 4-in-a-row (that player wins 1st place), OR
** A second player is eliminated (the sole survivor wins 1st place).


=== 3-Player Victory Points & Ranking ===
==Winning and Losing==
BGA ranks all three positions individually for fair ELO rating calculation:
* '''1st Place (Winner)''': '''2 VP''' (Won against both 2nd and 3rd place)
* '''2nd Place (Runner-Up / Later Survivor)''': '''1 VP''' (Won against 3rd place, lost to 1st place)
* '''3rd Place (First Player Eliminated)''': '''0 VP''' (Lost against both players)


== Game Options & Variants ==
After placing a stone, all unbroken straight lines along the 3 hexagonal axes through that stone are evaluated:
When creating a table on Board Game Arena, several official rulesets and options are available:
* '''WIN''' [[File:Yavalath_win_4.png|20px|middle]]: If you complete a straight line of '''4 or more''' stones of your colour (5 in Five-not-four), you immediately '''WIN'''!
* '''LOSE''' [[File:Yavalath_lose_3.png|20px|middle]]: If you complete a straight line of '''exactly 3''' stones of your colour (4 in Five-not-four) without simultaneously completing 4, you immediately '''LOSE'''!
* '''Win takes precedence''': If a single placement forms both a winning line and a losing line simultaneously, the '''WIN takes precedence''' and you win the game.
* '''Draw''': If the board fills completely with no winning line, the game ends in a tie.


=== 1. Board Size & Ruleset ===
===Pie Rule (Swap)===
* '''Standard (Side 5 / 61 cells)''' ''(Default)'':
In 2-player games (when enabled), after Player 1 places their opening stone, Player 2 may either play a normal move or click '''Swap Color''' to take over Player 1's stone and colour.
** Classic game board. Connect 4 to WIN, 3 to LOSE.
* '''Five-not-four (Side 6 / 91 cells)''':
** The official large-board variant designed by Cameron Browne.
** On this spacious board, the goals scale up: '''Connect 5 to WIN''', and '''Connect 4 to LOSE'''!
* '''Compact (Side 4 / 37 cells)''':
** A high-speed, tactical blitz board with tighter margins and intense sudden-death tension. Connect 4 to WIN, 3 to LOSE.


=== 2. The Pie Rule (Swap Rule) ===
==Three-Player Rules==
* '''Disabled''' ''(Default)'': Standard opening.
* '''Enabled''': In 2-player games, Player 1 has a natural first-move initiative. To ensure tournament fairness, Player 2 on Turn 2 is given an opening choice:
** Make a normal move with Black, '''OR'''
** Click '''"Swap Colors (Pie Rule)"''': Steal Player 1's opening stone and take over as White! Player 1 then receives Black and plays the next move.


== Strategy & Tactical Tips ==
* '''Elimination''': A player who forms a line of 3 stones [[File:Yavalath_lose_3.png|20px|middle]] is immediately eliminated.
* '''Forcing Traps''': The core tactic of Yavalath is forcing your opponent into a position where every legal move completes 3-in-a-row.
* '''Obstacles''': The eliminated player's stones remain on the board as permanent neutral blockers.
* '''Mind the Gap''': Placing stones with 1-cell gaps (e.g. stone - empty - stone) creates powerful future connection threats without triggering the 3-in-a-row penalty prematurely.
* '''Must-Block Rule''': You must not allow the player whose turn comes next to win. If the next active player can win on their turn, you '''must''' place your stone on one of those winning cells to block them. This applies even if blocking eliminates you.
* '''The Double Threat''': If you can create a move that threatens to make 4-in-a-row in two different directions, your opponent can only block one, securing your victory on the following turn.
* The game ends when a player completes 4-in-a-row (wins), or when two players have been eliminated (the sole survivor wins).
* '''Triangle Awareness''': Be careful when building compact clusters of stones; tight clusters often accidentally form lines of 3 along unexpected diagonal axes.


== Credits ==
==Variants (table options)==
* '''Game Design''': Cameron Browne & LUDI
 
* '''Original Publisher''': [https://nestorgames.com nestorgames] (Néstor Romeral Andrés)
* '''Board Size & Ruleset''' (Option 100):
* '''BGA Digital Adaptation''': Jayadev Haddadi
** '''Standard (Side 5)''' (default): 61 cells. Connect 4 to win, 3 to lose.
** '''Five-not-four (Side 6)''': 91 cells. Connect 5 to win, 4 to lose.
** '''Compact (Side 4)''': 37 cells. Connect 4 to win, 3 to lose.
* '''Pie Rule (Swap)''' (Option 101, 2 players only):
** '''Enabled''' (default): Player 2 may swap colours on their opening turn.
** '''Disabled''': standard opening without swapping.
 
==Controls on BGA==
 
* '''Placing a stone''': click any unoccupied cell to stage your piece.
* '''Confirming & Undoing''': click blue '''Confirm move''' to finalize, or red '''Undo''' (or click another cell) to change your placement.
* '''Pie Rule''': on Player 2's opening turn (if enabled), click '''Swap Color''' in the status bar to swap colours.
* '''Forced block''': when required to block the next player, only the valid blocking cells are legal.
* '''Preferences''': Colour-blind symbols on stones (Preference 100, default: Off): displays geometric symbols on stones.

Latest revision as of 13:44, 2 November 2026

Goal

Yavalath is an abstract strategy game designed in 2007 by computer scientist Cameron Browne using his evolutionary program LUDI, and published by nestorgames. It is famous for its simple yet diabolical rule: Connect 4 to WIN, but connect 3 and you LOSE!

Components

Component Visual Description
White Stone Player 1 piece.
Black Stone Player 2 piece.
Red Stone Player 3 piece (in 3-player games).
Hexagonal Board Hexagonal grid of cells (Standard: Side 5, 61 cells).
Winning Line Highlighted in green: 4 or more stones in an unbroken straight line (5 in Five-not-four).
Losing Line Highlighted in red: exactly 3 stones in an unbroken straight line (4 in Five-not-four).

Setup

  • The board starts empty.
  • Turn order: White → Black (→ Red in 3-player games).
  • Players take turns placing one stone of their colour on an unoccupied hexagonal cell .

Winning and Losing

After placing a stone, all unbroken straight lines along the 3 hexagonal axes through that stone are evaluated:

  • WIN : If you complete a straight line of 4 or more stones of your colour (5 in Five-not-four), you immediately WIN!
  • LOSE : If you complete a straight line of exactly 3 stones of your colour (4 in Five-not-four) without simultaneously completing 4, you immediately LOSE!
  • Win takes precedence: If a single placement forms both a winning line and a losing line simultaneously, the WIN takes precedence and you win the game.
  • Draw: If the board fills completely with no winning line, the game ends in a tie.

Pie Rule (Swap)

In 2-player games (when enabled), after Player 1 places their opening stone, Player 2 may either play a normal move or click Swap Color to take over Player 1's stone and colour.

Three-Player Rules

  • Elimination: A player who forms a line of 3 stones is immediately eliminated.
  • Obstacles: The eliminated player's stones remain on the board as permanent neutral blockers.
  • Must-Block Rule: You must not allow the player whose turn comes next to win. If the next active player can win on their turn, you must place your stone on one of those winning cells to block them. This applies even if blocking eliminates you.
  • The game ends when a player completes 4-in-a-row (wins), or when two players have been eliminated (the sole survivor wins).

Variants (table options)

  • Board Size & Ruleset (Option 100):
    • Standard (Side 5) (default): 61 cells. Connect 4 to win, 3 to lose.
    • Five-not-four (Side 6): 91 cells. Connect 5 to win, 4 to lose.
    • Compact (Side 4): 37 cells. Connect 4 to win, 3 to lose.
  • Pie Rule (Swap) (Option 101, 2 players only):
    • Enabled (default): Player 2 may swap colours on their opening turn.
    • Disabled: standard opening without swapping.

Controls on BGA

  • Placing a stone: click any unoccupied cell to stage your piece.
  • Confirming & Undoing: click blue Confirm move to finalize, or red Undo (or click another cell) to change your placement.
  • Pie Rule: on Player 2's opening turn (if enabled), click Swap Color in the status bar to swap colours.
  • Forced block: when required to block the next player, only the valid blocking cells are legal.
  • Preferences: Colour-blind symbols on stones (Preference 100, default: Off): displays geometric symbols on stones.
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